Pop-Up Art & Culture Activations Program
To download the Notice of Funding Availability, click HERE
To download a list of application questions, click HERE
Purpose
The Pop-Up Art & Culture Activations Program supports projects that incorporate a primary creative component and leverage the unique and specialized skills and creative ambition of local creatives/artists to enhance community-building. This program is geared to incentivize temporary new and innovative projects/activities.
Terms And Conditions
Awards of up to $5,000 per selected applicant will be provided. (up to 5 awards per Cultural District)
The awardee must have a signed contract before December 20, 2024.
Funding will be available to selected awardees during a 12-month period.
Selection Criteria
Eligible Locations
All Pop-Up Art Activations must benefit communities and residents within the City of Minneapolis Cultural Districts, with projects taking place within and in *close proximity to the Minneapolis Cultural Districts.
*ACA is open to considering proposals located within a 5-block radius of the boundaries delineating the cultural district. Each proposal will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine its alignment with our objectives and requirements.
The seven Cultural Districts include:
Eligible Applicants
Applicants must be Minnesota residents and be able to work in-person throughout the term of their work on this Program. Preference to Minneapolis residents.
If the applicant is a group, art space, school, or neighborhood association, an individual representing this group must be named.
If the applicant is an informal collective that is not a registered business with the state, a Minnesotan resident in compliance with state laws must be willing to contract with the City on behalf of the group
Local individual artists, artist groups/teams, arts organizations and arts/culture service organizations focusing on these artistic and community-building practices: visual, performing, literary, media, traditional, digital and public arts as well as design and craft and those working in non-traditional media.
Application must be submitted by the application deadline. Late applications will not be considered.
IMPORTANT DATES
Applications open: June 21, 2024
Program information webinar: June 28, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. (Sign Up)
Questions on NOFA due: July 2, 2024
Responses to Questions posted: July 8, 2024
Application deadline: Aug 9, 2024, at 4:30 PM CST
Applications review: August 12 to August 23, 2024
Award notifications: August 29, 2024
Eligible funding period: September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025
Eligible Activations
Programming and Activations may include, but are not limited to the following:
Projects representing new thought and innovation that invest in the creative ambition of Minneapolis residents.
Projects/activities can include disciplines such as dance, drumming, puppetry, fashion events, songwriting, performance, improv theater, poetry, bilingual plays, sound healing, audio storytelling, dance parties, technology, interactive installations, hands-on activities for youth, storytelling through film and visual art, and radically new forms of creativity.
Artist-driven gatherings, creative collaborative engagement sessions, community dialogues and celebrations. Therapeutic creative projects to promote stress-relief, safety, racial healing, belonging, and social connection.
Artist-led temporary art projects such as murals, sculpture and/or interactive installations located on private property and in vacant lots, parks, plazas, and underutilized spaces.
Artist-created outdoor spaces on private or public property for community gathering and celebrations.
All arts project proposals are welcome, including programs that serve diverse communities including but not limited to: childcare, youth, teens, single parents, college-aged communities, seniors, families, migrants, people with disabilities, K-12 arts programs, Two-Spirit and LGBTAQI+, POCII communities, hospitality/culture workers, unsheltered, formally and currently incarcerated, and recovery communities.
Eligible Project Expenses
Budget, including any proposed expenses, must be pre-approved by Arts & Cultural Affairs staff and meet the state’s public purpose expenditures criteria
Staff wages and benefits expended on program work
Artist fees
Supplies and equipment necessary to carry out program activities
Convening expenses
Communication expenses
Marketing expenses
Team-Building expenses
Expenses to enhance accessibility
Expenses supporting representation and inclusion
Offset Free and/or affordable events
funding cannot be used for costs such as an applicant’s general operating expenses; political, religious, or lobbying activities; and gift cards, cash incentives, or giveaway items.
Applicant’s final budget, including any proposed expenses, must be pre-approved by ACA staff and all expenditures must meet a public purpose.
(Note: this program is not intended to fund or engage with the City’s ongoing public art programming. Public art projects, such as murals created through this program may need to follow the City’s public art policies, particularly all projects in the Right of Way or on City property. Project timelines will need to accommodate these processes.)
Evaluation Criteria
In reviewing applications, the review team/panel will consider the criteria below. The City may, in its sole discretion, expand or reduce the criteria upon which it bases its final decisions.
Priority will be given to applicants who either live in and/or work in or near one of the city's seven Cultural Districts.
Priority will be given to applicants with cultural competency and authentic connections to Minneapolis communities.
Applicant must demonstrate the capacity to engage communities in diverse, deep and meaningful ways.
Applicant must demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of their selected Cultural District’s history, culture, and local community.
Applicant must demonstrate artistic merit and innovation as well as site-specific and site-responsive sensibility in their proposed project.
Applicant must demonstrate community impact and the ability to stimulate dialogue, provoke thought and/or inspire action in their proposed projects.
Applicant must demonstrate ability to ensure project is accessible to a diverse audience and inclusive of various backgrounds, abilities and perspectives.
Applicant and application must meet all eligibility criteria and satisfy all Notice for Funding Availability (NOFA) requirements.
Whether NOFA Project funds are available.
How well the application meets City goals, priorities and plans, including the reduction of climate impact and ensure equity.
Expressed needs of the applicant and affiliated arts sector
Quality, thoroughness, and clarity of the application.
Qualifications and experience of the applicant.
Feasibility of proposed activities and ability of applicant to complete proposed activities.
Level of creativity, innovation, and community building expressed in the application.
Ability to support a broad range of unique artists and diverse arts activities that support creative art making and cultural exchange.
Commonly Asked Questions
1. I’m a new artist, can I still apply?
Yes. Artists working in any creative mediums at any career development stage can apply.
2. I want to collaborate with another organization (e.g., church, mosque, temple or neighborhood group, nonprofit) on a larger initiative they’re doing. Can I use this funding for that?
Maybe. Funds cannot be used to pay for costs of the larger initiative that are not related to the Festivals & Cultural Spaces activation project. However, your Festivals & Cultural Spaces Activation project can take place as part of a larger initiative, so long as it still meets all the requirements of this NOFA.
3. I’m applying with a proposal for one of the Cultural Districts and have been asked by another team to subcontract in their project for a different Cultural District. Is this allowed?
Yes.
4. I’m an organization, can I apply?
Yes. As long as you are an arts organization, you may apply.
5. My project will be located in more than one Cultural District, is that ok?
Yes. However, the proposal must present a realistic budget to show how it will be feasible in $16,700 or less.
7. I am planning for some of my project activities to take place outside the city of Minneapolis in other parts of the Twin Cities Metro, is this ok?
No. All project activities must benefit Minneapolis communities and take place within the city of Minneapolis Cultural Districts.
8. I have received Creative Response Funding in the past, can I apply for the Cultural Districts Arts Fund in 2024?
Yes. There are no restrictions to apply if you had received funding from Office of Arts Culture and Creative Economy in past.
9. I am a Minneapolis resident artist but I'm planning to work remotely from another State, can I apply?
No, you must be a Minnesota resident and living in Minnesota for the duration of the award. Our intention is to support grounded community-based artist-led projects and these are difficult to implement remotely without authentic community relationships.
Additional Q&A
Question: I see in the map on the city's website that we are just outside of the highlighted "Cedar Avenue South", but wanted to confirm if we might still be considered for Festival and Cultural Spaces program funding.
Answer: All Festivals & Cultural Spaces Activation projects must benefit communities and residents within the city of Minneapolis Cultural Districts, with projects taking place within and in close proximity to the Minneapolis Cultural Districts. ACA is open to considering proposals located within a 5-block radius of the boundaries delineating the cultural district. Each proposal will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine its alignment with our objectives and requirements.
Question: What do you consider as a non-profit arts organization? We are a 501(c) (3) non profit organization in Minneapolis and one of our programs houses a theatre near a CD. Would we be considered an arts organization?
Answer: Yes, you are an arts service organization and eligible to apply for CDAF.
Question: Can the programming on/by a lake apply? There are no lakes in CD map.
Answer: Projects that are not located within the Cultural Districts boundaries or within a 5 block radius of these boundaries are not eligible for CD funding. If you believe your project will benefit the communities and residents of CUltural Districts, please contact us. Each proposal will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine its alignment with our objectives and requirements.
Visit ACA website https://mplsartsandculture.org/ and subscribe to the ACA newsletter to be the first one know about our 2025 programs and future funding opportunities.
Question: How to contact in case of questions?
Answer: Contact us at mplsaca@minneapolismn.gov or ask question to the program manager meena.mangalvedhekar@minneapolismn.gov . Please include your question, context for your question, and contact details.
Question: How many applicants are required to work on a project?
Answer: One applicant is required for CD Ambassador applicant. (write NA for applicant #2 fields)
Two applicants are required to be named on Pop-up Art Activation as well as Festival & Cultural Spaces program. Only one of the two applicants needs to step forward to sign the award contract.
Question: What if I live and work in Minneapolis but not in or within close proximity of a Minneapolis Cultural District.
Answer: It’s possible that you may not have authentic connection, lived experiences and/or understanding of the community needs of cultural districts. ACA is supporting applicants that demonstrate such capacity for deep and meaningful ways of community engagement.
Question: How are you going to select applicants?
Answer: A review panel consisting of representatives from nonprofit, non-arts organizations serving priority communities, community arts experts and members of the Minneapolis Arts Commission will recommend applicants for awards after a round of blind review voting and a panel discussion meeting.
Question: Why should I apply for Pop-up Art Activation program? How does this program help me as a creative professional?
Answer: The program is designed to incentivize community-based artists of all disciplines, and emerging designers. It supports temporary projects and activities that incorporate a primary creative component. These activations will showcase creative ambition of local artists to enhance community-building. This Program will incentivize temporary, new and innovative Activations in the communities of Minneapolis Cultural Districts.
These Activations can be temporary and ephemeral, responding directly to community needs while centering on community-driven cultural practices. Funded Activations will integrate community engagement and site-specific responsiveness. Activations can include various arts activities such as dance, drumming, songwriting, performance, improv theater, poetry, bilingual plays, puppetry, sound healing, audio storytelling, interactive installations, hands-on activities for youth/families, and storytelling through film and visual art, etc.
Question: Can one organization submit two separate projects for the same opportunity?
Answer: yes, if there are two separate project teams. However, in this case, contact us to determine if one of your projects is eligible for a different cultural districts arts fund program. So, you are not competing against yourself for funding.
Question: Can I request funding for a performance event series that is fully virtual? i.e. released on youtube
Answer: Yes. However, closely consider the evaluation criteria including “Applicant must demonstrate the capacity to engage communities in diverse, deep and meaningful ways.” If there’s a possibility of hosting free to attend in-person screenings in eligible locations, we encourage you to invite CD community to such events before releasing the content online.
Question: Can I use the award dollars to make a film?
Answer: Film-making can be the creative component of your proposal. Make sure to elaborate how all the overall deliverables benefit communities and residents within the Cultural Districts, with activities taking place within the selected Cultural District.
Question: Can I buy equipment such as a printer or video camera because it is required to create proposed project?
Answer: All funded Activations must incorporate a primary creative component and must benefit communities (rather than the applicant) and residents within the Cultural Districts, with Activations taking place within a Cultural District. See the eligible expenses section for each applicable program. Basically, you may rent any equipment to an eligible project, to present/create the creative component of the project.
Question: Can we invite artists from overseas or from other states to present at an event we're proposing?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Can I invite community for a meal as a part of a festival?
Answer: Yes. As long as the meal is to be consumed at the activation, and is a part of primary creative component of the project. Meals give away is not an eligible expense.